NONLINEAR STATE ESTIMATION IN A POLYMERIZATION REACTOR

This paper concerns nonlinear state estimation in a continuous polymer ization reactor where free-radical solution polymerization of methyl m ethacrylate takes place. Initiator and solvent concentrations and the leading moments of the molecular weight distribution of the polymer ar e estimated in three measurement cases. For one of the measurement cas es, the global convergence of the nonlinear observer is proved. The co nvergence of the nonlinear observers is shown by numerical simulations , for different values of observer gains, for different observer initi al conditions, and in the presence of a measurable disturbance. Furthe rmore, in each case, the implementation and performance of the nonline ar observer are compared with those of a deterministic extended Kalman filter.